A PUBLIC consultation was held on Thursday, January 23, at The Larruperz Centre to gather feedback on plans for a proposed 70-bed care home at the southern end of St Mary’s Garden Village on Starling Road, Ross-on-Wye.

The area, currently a wetland, has been identified for potential development by Prime, a Worcester-based specialist in health and care property.

Prime highlighted the growing demand for care home beds in Herefordshire, particularly for complex and dementia care.

They stated that Ross faces a shortfall of 106 care home beds as of 2020, with this number projected to rise to 155 by 2041.

The proposed facility aims to meet this need while integrating into the local community.

The development would include 70 single-occupancy bedrooms, each with en-suite wet rooms, spread across two floors.

Communal spaces would provide opportunities for residents to connect, while a specialist dementia care unit is planned to cater to those with higher dependency needs.

The developers emphasised sustainability and ecology in their plans, with a 15-metre buffer zone to protect nearby woodland and Rudhall Brook.

The project would also bring permanent employment opportunities to the area, creating positions ranging from care workers to management roles.

While Prime has expressed its commitment to community engagement and thoughtful design, some residents voiced strong opposition during the consultation.

Jaime Davis, a local resident, raised concerns about the strain the development could place on local infrastructure:

“This is what happens when you allow those that don’t know the town to hold all the cards. Another 70 rooms, additional pressure on the local surgeries, additional pressure on the ‘bypass’ from the visitors etc.”

Prime is reviewing feedback from the consultation and aims to incorporate public input into the design process.

Further updates on the development will be shared as the project progresses. Residents are encouraged to stay engaged and continue sharing their views.